The Kansas City Chiefs, an NFL team, defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 NFL season Super Bowl game, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday, February 11, 2024.

The NFL, which stands for the National Football League, is the most popular American football league in the United States.

American football is a sport evolved from rugby in the mid-19th century, and the main objective of this sport is to advance the oval-shaped ball forward to score.

Two teams alternate between offense and defense, and they switch roles when one team scores or loses possession of the ball.

One way to score is by a “field goal,” where a player kicks the ball through the yellow goal post, earning 3 points.

Another way to score is by a “touchdown,” where a player from the offensive team successfully carries the ball to the opponent team’s zone, earning the offense 6 points.

After each touchdown, the team that scored gets an opportunity to attempt an extra-point conversion via a field goal or a two-point conversion by advancing from the opponent’s two-yard line.

Each game consists of four quarters, each lasting15 minutes, with the possibility of 15-minute overtimes if necessary.

The Super Bowl is the annual league championship of the NFL since 1966, which determines the champion out of 32 total teams throughout the nation.

Champions from each conference, the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC), compete in the Super Bowl.

The 2023 NFL season’s Super Bowl was a match between the Kansas City Chiefs, the AFC champion, and the San Francisco 49ers, the NFC champion.

This year’s Super Bowl is considered to be a rematch between the two teams following Super Bowl LIV in 2020, which ended with the Chiefs’ victory.

The game began with the 49ers’ leading 3-0, starting with placekicker Jake Moody’s 55-yard field goal in the second quarter.

This field goal initially set the record for the longest field goal made in the Super Bowl, which was previously a 54-yard field goal by Buffalo Bills kicker Steve Christie in Super Bowl XXVIII.

With the first touchdown of the match by 49ers running back McCaffrey, followed by the extra-point conversion and the 28-yard field goal by Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, the first half ended with the 49ers’ leading 10-3.

In the third quarter, the record for the longest field goal made in the Super Bowl was once again renewed as Butker successfully kicked a 57-yard field goal, making the score 10-6.

The following touchdown made by Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and the converted extra point resulted in the Chiefs’ taking a lead of 13-10.

In the fourth quarter, 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings made a touchdown, making the 49ers’ lead of 16-13.

However, the extra-point field goal attempt was blocked by Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal.

Following the touchdown were three field goals, two by the Chiefs and one by the 49ers, making the score a 19-19 tie.

Since the second half ended with a tie, the game continued to overtime.

Because of this, Super Bowl LVIII became the second Super Bowl ever to go into overtime, after Super Bowl LI.

In overtime, which began with the 49ers' offense, Moody kicked a 27-yard field goal, making the lead 22-19.

However, as Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman made a touchdown, the game ended with a Chiefs’ victory of 25-22.

As a result, Kansas City Chiefs received the Vince Lombardi Trophy, and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes became the MVP of the match.

This victory also marked a back-to-back Super Bowl win since the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Also, the Chiefs achieved a “dynasty” as they appeared in four out of five recent Super Bowls, winning three of them.

Yujun Lee 

Grade 10

Homestead High School